stLouISTBoil Advisory for Parts of the North and South City
ST. LOUIS - The City Water Division has issued a precautionary boil water advisory for
portions of its service area due to low water pressure caused by a loss of incoming power
at one of their water treatment plants.
There are two affected areas (one in North city and one in South city) under the
precautionary boil water advisory are:
Area 1:
• The area bordered by Kingshighway to the City limits and Page to Natural Bridge
Area 2:
• North of Arsenal to Oakland between Kingshighway and the western City limit.
• South of Arsenal to Chippewa between Kingshighway and Hampton.
See Map for more specific detail of the affected area.
The Water Division has not detected any contamination to the water supply and has issued
the boil water advisory out of an abundance of caution.
The boil water advisory is in effect until further notice. The Water Division will analyze
water samples before determining when to lift the boil water advisory. Test results will be
in 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a boil water advisory? The Water Division may issue a boil water advisory when
there is concern a problem with drinking water may exist, but it has not yet been
confirmed. This may be done, for example, after very low water pressure or a main break
event and while waiting for the results from tests for confirmation in water samples
collected for bacteriological analysis. The analysis results should be available the next day.
What is a boil water order? A boil water order is issued by the Missouri Department of
Natural Resources to public water systems when a threat to the public health exists, or is
likely to exist, that boiling the water will remedy. The public water system is then required
to notify consumers as soon as possible, and by the most effective methods, that need to
boil their drinking water.
What precautions should I take if under a boil water advisory or order?
The following steps need to be taken:
• Boil water vigorously for three minutes prior to use. Use only water that has been
boiled for drinking, diluting fruit juices, all other food preparation and brushing
teeth.
Note: Let water cool sufficiently before drinking (approximately 110 degrees
Fahrenheit).
• Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic ice maker.
Remake ice cubes with water that has been boiled.
• Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one
minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach
per gallon of water.
Do I need to boil bath water? Water used for bathing does not generally need to be
boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing or using backyard pools so water
is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
What are the causes of boil water orders? The presence of fecal coliform or E. coli
bacteria is a common cause for issuing a boil water order. Other instances include low
water pressure and inadequate levels of chlorine at systems that require chlorination. High
turbidity levels, cross connections, inadequate treatment techniques and the presence of
other microbial pathogens such as Giardia or Cryptosporidium are potential causes for boil
water orders that occur less frequently.
What are the symptoms of water-borne illness? Disease symptoms may include
diarrhea, cramps, nausea and possible jaundice and associated headaches and fatigue.
These symptoms, however, are not just associated with disease-causing organisms in
drinking water; they also may be caused by a number of factors other than your drinking
water.
Are some groups of people more seriously affected? Persons with reduced immune
function, infants under six months in age, and the elderly are more seriously impacted by
water-borne disease. Immune function may be reduced due to chemotherapy for
treatment, organ transplants or diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Persons in these groups need
to contact their personal physicians for additional information.
Should I buy bottled water just to be on the safe side? Buying bottled water may be a
feasible alternative to boiling drinking water when under a boil water order. Bottled water
operations are routinely inspected, and samples are analyzed by state health agencies. This
offers a safe source of water for drinking, cooking and brushing teeth.
Where can I get more information?
To learn more about your drinking water, call the Missouri Department of Natural
Resources at 800-361-4827. If you are served by a public water system, call the EPA’s Safe
Drinking Water hotline at 800-426-479.
If you get your drinking water from a private well, contact the Missouri Department of
Health at 800-392-0272.
For More Information:
City of St. Louis – Water Division Customer Service Section 1640 S. Kingshighway, St. Louis,
Mo. 63110 314-771-2255 www.stlwater.com
Missouri Department of Natural Resources Water Protection Program - Public Drinking
Water Branch P.O. Box 176 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5331
office 573-526-1146 fax www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp